"Two of the companies are over yonder, and the others are in the rear. I thought--Creation! Get to cover, quick!" Life drew his own horse back, and the others followed suit. A dozen riflemen had opened upon them, putting a bullet through the mane of Deck's horse. The first volley was followed immediately by another, and Artie Lyon suffered the ruin of one of his shoulder straps. Before the Confederates could fire again, all were safely out of range. "We've developed 'em," was Life's dry comment. "Reckon I had best get back to my command." "Ask Major Belthorpe to request the colonel to send you over here with part of your men, if he can spare you. I am half of a mind those men over there are sharpshooters." "I will do it, Major," answered the tall Kentuckian, and dashed away. By this time the first three companies of the first battalion had fallen back to a safe position, and here all of the companies were joined, in ten minutes, by Life Knox, with half of his own company and half of Captain Ripley's best marksmen. A cautious advance was now ordered, and the sharpshooters advanced on their hands and knees in a huge semicircle. To learn the true condition of affairs, Deck went with Life, the two taking a course which soon brought them to where there was a little cove. Beyond this cove the creek split in two for the distance of thirty rods, forming a long island in the centre, one hundred and fifty feet wide at the middle, and heavily wooded. "Some of the enemy are on that island, that's certain," whispered Life, as he came to a halt at the base of a sharp rock some four feet high. "Don't expose yourself, Deck." "I don't intend to, Life. But what can those sharpshooters be doing here? They didn't know we were coming this way." "That's true, Major." "And they wouldn't be here just as an advance guard for some cavalry." "Right again." "Then why are they here?" "I give it up." "Well, I don't." "What do you intend to do?" "Find out why they are here." "But that may be impossible, without an open fight." "I wouldn't like to force an open fight until I know how those marksmen are backed up." "That's just the trouble. I agree that the Johnnies are there on the island. To get to the island you have got to cross that stream. If you show yourself in the water, you're a dead man--that goes without saying. Now what are you going to do?" demanded the tall Kentuckian, with half a smile, feeling certain he had cornered Deck. "Going over on the island." "But you'll be shot!" "I sincerely trust not." "But you will be! It's suicide to wade that stream!" "I shan't wade the stream." "You can't jump it, for it is fifteen or eighteen feet wide, and a jump wouldn't be quick enough--to my way of looking at it. You'd land, and drop, sure pop." "I shan't wade across, neither will I attempt to jump across," smiled the young major. "Then how in thunder do you expect to get over to the island?" demanded Life, earnestly.